The Golden State Valkyries claimed their first WNBA championship in San Francisco on October 31, 2026, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in the league’s historic first Game 7. Gabby Williams scored 30 points, securing the title in just the franchise’s second season of existence.
How Gabby Williams and the Valkyries Claimed the Game 7 Victory
Golden State trailed by six points at halftime on home court at the Chase Center, struggling offensively much as they had throughout the best-of-seven series. Then Williams took over, scoring 15 points in the third quarter alone and finishing with 30 points, four blocks, and three steals over 38 minutes of play.
Her performance set a WNBA Finals record for most points in a half with 28 after the intermission. She sank three consecutive three-pointers in the third period to erase Atlanta’s lead, then hit a contested 3-pointer with two seconds left on the shot clock to make it 60-57 late in the fourth quarter. Kiah Stokes added a gritty putback basket with 53.8 seconds remaining to help seal the outcome.
YOU WATCHED HISTORY. NOW WEAR IT.2026 @WNBA Champions shirts are available in-store and online now. pic.twitter.com/PSqRfezZNV
Joe Lacob, the principal owner and governor of the franchise, accepted the championship trophy first during the post-game ceremony, addressing the crowd and letting out a loud shout honoring the team’s fanbase in the arena. The 30th edition of the WNBA Finals concluded a historic campaign that saw the league set a new attendance record with 3.8 million fans attending 330 regular-season games, with average attendance increasing 21% from the prior year.
The Atlanta Dream’s Historic Run and Game 6 Resilience
The Dream forced the decisive Game 7 on October 29 with an 80-69 victory in Atlanta, where Allisha Gray scored 23 points. That win handed Golden State its second straight loss after the Valkyries held a 3-2 series lead following strong defensive displays in Games 4 and 5.
Give it up for the CHAMPS 🙌🏆The @valkyries celebrate a historic night as they capture their first WNBA championship!#2026WNBAFinals | #WNBASeason30 pic.twitter.com/S5dAMTcPm7
In the finale, Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, while Gray contributed 16.
During Game 6, the contest tipped off at 12:30 p.m. because the Atlanta Hawks were scheduled to play at State Farm Arena on Thursday night. That unusual scheduling forced an afternoon match, though the league and teams coordinated to ensure the event concluded ahead of the evening NBA action.
Natalie Nakase and Joe Lacob’s Rapid Championship Timeline
When head coach Natalie Nakase met with owner Joe Lacob in October 2024 for her interview, Lacob outlined a five-year horizon to win a championship. Nakase walked into the interview with notes detailing her vision for building a team, and when Lacob stated his high ambitions, she responded with absolute confidence.
Hell yeah, we’re gonna win a championship.
KAITLYN CHEN IS HYPE TO BE A CHAMP 🏆She hits a celly as confetti falls in Ballhalla!#2026WNBAFinals | #WNBASeason30 pic.twitter.com/41VWTFe2vY
Working alongside general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and franchise president Jess Smith, Nakase constructed a roster over two seasons that helped the organization achieve historic success. The franchise became the fastest expansion team to win a title in major North American professional sports history, capturing the trophy three years ahead of Lacob’s original schedule.
Impossible to overlook. Impossible to ignore. Your 2026 @WNBA Finals MVP, Gabby Williams.Gabby is the only player in WNBA Finals history to record 30+ points, 4+ blocks and 2+ steals in a game.@JWinery | Celebrating Milestones pic.twitter.com/tgaADY9Hbj